Three new records were set at the British International Motor Show, despite disruption caused to visitors who travelled by train.

For the first time, exhibitors and visitors added more than 30m to the economy in the West Midlands, as Britain's biggest consumer show also employed more than 20,000 local people to stage the record-breaking event.

More than 100,000 overseas visitors logged on to visit the motor show via the website setting a new record for international visitors to the UK event, and more than 300,000 logged on in Britain, clocking-up more than four million page impressions at www.motorshow.co.uk.

Despite the significant problems on the UK railways, with a 50 per cent fall in visitors travelling to the NEC by train, the overall number of visitors to the motor show is expected to top 600,000 when the final audited numbers are released by ABC1. Exhibitors smashed their own targets, with record levels of orders taken and interest in their products at all-time highs. The new Cowley-built Mini, in the first ten days of the show, generated more than 20,000 serious sales leads, while Toyota registered more than 15,000 serious enquiries about its cars.

SEAT and Ford both broke records for sales leads, and Nissan described the event as generating more new business with higher quality leads than in previous years.

Lexus took over 45 orders for its new sports car, the SC430, and Peugeot was flooded with enquiries about its new 206 Coup Cabriolet.

The small sports car manufacturers have also hailed the show a success. Ascari has taken seven orders for its 130,000 Ascari KZ1.

Eight orders for the new Trident Iceni were taken at the show and Spyker took 19 orders for its new 150,000 C8 Spyder one of which was from pop star Jay Kay. Ginetta has taken four orders, with seven more 'close to signing' for the Ginetta 20 Roadster and Grinnall has had over 20 serious enquiries for its new sports car. TVR also claims that ten per cent of its annual sales are made during the two-week showcase at the NEC.

Motor show chief executive Christopher Macgowan said: "This has been the most successful British International Motor Show on record and has generated high levels of new business both in the West Midlands and for companies across the whole motor industry.

"The UK has put itself firmly on the world map yet again showing that Britain's most significant manufacturing industry is alive and growing fast," he added

"We now need to work with Government to ensure that we build on the success of the past two weeks and generate a bright solid future for the 800,000 people who work in this fine industry."